Veteran Malayalam cinematographer Shaji Kumar, whose body of work includes some of the biggest commercial successes in the industry, passed away at a private hospital in Kochi on Tuesday. He was 57. The cinematographer, who had worked on more than 50 films during a career spanning over two decades, suffered a medical emergency while shooting for an upcoming Dileep film in Alappuzha on Sunday. His sudden demise has left the Malayalam film industry mourning the loss of a technician whose visual contributions shaped several memorable films.
According to reports, Shaji fell ill while working on the sets of Henok, Dileep’s upcoming film, in Alappuzha. He was initially taken to a hospital in the district for medical attention before being shifted to a private hospital in Kochi. Although his condition reportedly improved, and he was subsequently moved out of the intensive care unit, he collapsed while walking towards the washroom. He passed away in the early hours of Tuesday.
Born in Thiruvananthapuram, Shaji had been residing in Perumbavoor for several years. He is survived by his wife, Smitha, and their sons, Aryan and Sooryan.
From Uthaman To Pulimurugan: A Career Behind Some Of Malayalam Cinema’s Biggest Hits
Shaji made his debut as a cinematographer with the 2001 Malayalam film Uthaman. Over the years, he established himself as a dependable technician in mainstream Malayalam cinema, working across a variety of genres and collaborating with several prominent filmmakers. His regular associations with directors such as Shaji Kailas, Joshiy, Vinayan and Vysakh resulted in some notable commercial successes.
His filmography includes titles such as Naran, Nasrani, Pokkiri Raja, Madhura Raja, Ramaleela, Odiyan, Pathonpatham Noottandu and Thudarum. Among these, his work on Vysakh’s Pulimurugan remains particularly significant. Starring Mohanlal in the lead, the 2016 action entertainer became the first Malayalam film to cross the Rs 100-crore mark at the worldwide box office, marking a major milestone for the industry. Shaji’s cinematography played an important role in bringing the film’s action set pieces and expansive jungle setting to life.
His association with Mohanlal also extended to several other films, including Naran, Baba Kalyani, Red Chillies, Mahha Samudram, Ittymaani: Made in China and Odiyan. The cinematographer was also part of Thudarum, the widely successful collaboration between Mohanlal and filmmaker Tharun Moorthy.
While Malayalam cinema remained his primary area of work, Shaji also contributed to Tamil films. He notably collaborated with actor Prashanth on Ponnar Shankar, Mambattiyan and Saahasam. His other notable Tamil association was The King & the Commissioner, featuring Mammootty and Suresh Gopi.
Among his final assignments was Athimanoharam, which reunited him with Mohanlal and Tharun Moorthy following the success of Thudarum. The police procedural drama is scheduled to arrive in theatres on December 24 as a Christmas release. Shaji was also associated with Suresh Gopi’s upcoming film Ottakkomban. Both projects will now stand among the final works of a cinematographer whose career was cut short unexpectedly.
Mohanlal And Suresh Gopi Remember Their Longtime Collaborator
Following news of his demise, several members of the Malayalam film fraternity expressed their grief, with actors Mohanlal and Suresh Gopi paying tributes to the cinematographer. Both actors recalled their professional associations with Shaji and acknowledged the contribution he made to their films.
Mohanlal, who shared a long working relationship with Shaji, took to social media to remember their collaborations, stretching from Joshiy’s Naran to their final project together, Athimanoharam. The actor wrote, “Shaji was with me in films such as Naran, Pulimurugan, Odiyan and Thudarum, right up to our last collaboration, Athimanoharam.”
Remembering the cinematographer’s ability to capture performances, Mohanlal added, “Shaji was an exceptional talent who could capture emotional expressions with remarkable depth. We always shared affection and friendship.” The actor also expressed his sorrow over losing a longtime colleague and friend.
Suresh Gopi, meanwhile, remembered Shaji’s understanding of visual storytelling and the emotional dimension he brought to his assignments. “Standing behind the camera, Shaji did not merely capture images; he captured the soul of every story and the strength and emotions of every character,” the actor wrote.
Reflecting on their association with Ottakkomban, Suresh Gopi said Shaji’s visualisation was central to the film. “When I think of Ottakomban, the first thing that comes to mind is Shaji’s beautiful visualisation. His visual imagination and cinematographic excellence form the backbone of the film. His camera could convey a character’s strength and the scale of a story to the audience,” he added.
The actor further wrote, “Even after an artist passes away, every frame they have captured will continue to tell future generations that their art never dies.” Describing the loss as deeply personal, Suresh Gopi remembered Shaji as a colleague who was passionate about cinema and committed to his craft.
For Malayalam cinema, Shaji Kumar’s passing marks the loss of a cinematographer who spent more than two decades translating stories into images. From the commercially ambitious spectacle of Pulimurugan to the more recent success of Thudarum, his work found a place in several significant chapters of the industry’s contemporary history. His final films will offer audiences one more opportunity to experience the visual craft he brought to the screen.
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Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: filmfare.com
